NINE man Woodhouse Eaves 2nd XI snatched a dramatic win over Wigston 2nd XI to keep them in the Senior Cricket League Division Two promotion hunt.

NINE man Woodhouse Eaves 2nd XI snatched a dramatic win over Wigston 2nd XI to keep them in the Senior Cricket League Division Two promotion hunt.

The game went down to the last ball of the game and a snick over the slips for four by Mal Stewart gave Woodhouse the points.

Wigston won the toss and batted with Phil Stanhope and Stewart opening the bowling followed by Nick Stovell.

Salim Jessani bowled his full allocation of 15 overs, a terrific mixture of seam, swing, leggies and dippers that in no way justified his figures of 3 for 54. Nev Freestone bamboozled while taking the other two wickets for 30 runs.

All the bowlers were unlucky as Wigston chipped into the open spaces although Eaves fielded very well considering their lack of numbers.

Phil Stanhope snaffled a catch a couple of millimetres from the ground, Jessani maintained his record of at least a catch a game, Ray Patel made a skier look simple and Martin Palmer kept wicket well.

For Wigston Paul Ashton top scored with 76 as they purposely made 201 for 5.

Eaves started slowly in reply as John Gillingham (35) and Patel (65) accumulated cautiously as Eaves were short on numbers. Then Chris Evans smashed 15 and Jessani made a quick and classy 56 to be followed back to the Pavilion by Patel and Stanhope leaving Stewart to score at least two from the last ball of the game to take the win for Eaves at 204 for 5 which he edged to the boundary.

This leaves Woodhouse Eaves well in the mix for the second promotion place to Division One. They are away on Saturday in the last game of the season against the already promoted Thornton 1st XI.